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OXFORD PAMPHLETS

1914-1915

CORONEL AND THE
FALKLAND ISLANDS

BY

A. NEVILLE HILDITCH

Price llireepence net

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

HUMPHREY MILFORD

LONDON EDINBURGH GLASGOW

NEW YORK TORONTO MELBOURNE BOMBAY

JUAN rCKNANOCZ If

• 'Juan Ftrnondt*

FALXLANO If

SOUTHERN SOUTH AME;RICA

CORONEL AND THE FALKLAND

ISLANDS

THE STRUGGLE FOR THE PACIFIC TRADE

ROUTES

In 1592, John Davis, the arctic explorer, after whom
the strait between Greenland and the North American
mainland is named, made an attempt, in company with
Thomas Cavendish, to find a new route to Asia bj' the
Straits of Magellan. Differences arose between the two
leaders. One was an explorer : the other had a tendency
towards freebooting. They parted off the coast of
Patagonia. Davis, driven out of his course by stormy
weather, found himself among a cluster of unknown and
uninhabited islands, some three hundred miles east of
the Straits of Magellan. This group, after many
changes and vicissitudes, passed finalh' into the hands
of Great Britain, and became known as the Falkland
Islands.

They consist of two large islands and of about one
hundred islets, rocks, and sandbanks. The fragments
of many >\Tecks testify to the dangers of navigation,
though masses of giant seaweed act as buoys for many
of the rocks. So numerous are the penguins, thronging
in battalions the smaller islands and the inland lagoons,
that the governor of the colony is nicknamed King of
the Penguins. As New Zealand is said to be the most
English of British possessions, the Falklands may

4 CORONEL AND THE

perhaps be appropriately termed the most Scottish. Their
general appearance resembles that of the Outer Hebrides.
Of the population, who number some 2,000, a large
proportion are of Scottish extraction. The climate is
not unlike that of the north-west of Scotland. The
winters are misty and rainy, but not excessively cold.
So violent are the winds, that it is said to be impos-
sible to play tennis or croquet, unless walls are erected as
shelter, while cabbages grown in the kitchen-gardens of
the shepherds, the only cultivated ground, are at times
uprooted and scattered like straw. The surface, much
of which is bogland, is in some parts mountainous, and
is generally wild and rugged. Small streams and
shallow freshwater tarns abound. A natural curiosity,
regarded with great wonder, exists in ' stone-rivers ' ;
long, glistening lines of quartzite rock debris, which, with-
out the aid of water, slide gradually to lower levels.
There are no roads. Imiumerable sheep, the familiar
Cheviots and Southdowns, graze upon the wild scurvy-
grass and sorrel. The colony is destitute of trees, and
possesses but few shrubs. The one tree that it can
boast, an object of much care and curiosity, stands in
the Governor's garden. The seat of government, and
the only town, is Port Stanley, with a population of
about 950. Its general aspect recalls a small town
of the western highlands of Scotland. Many of the
houses, square, white-washed, and grey-slated, possess
small greenhouse-porches, gay with fuchsias and pelar-
goniums, in pleasing contrast to the prevailing barrenness.
A small cathedral, Christ Chiuxih, and an imposing
barracks, generally occupied by a company of marines,
stand in the midst of the town. The Government
House might be taken for an Orkney or Shetland
manse. The administration of the colony and of its

FALKLAND ISLANDS a

(lependenoieH w veHt«d in a (Jovernor, uided by a Colonial
Secretary, and by an executive and a legislative council.
The Goveraor acta as Chief Justice, and the Colonial
Secretary as Police Magistrate. There is a local jail,
capable of accommodating six offenders at a time. Its
resources are not stated, however, to be habitually
strained. Education is compulsory : the Oovemment
maintains schools and travelling teachers. The inhabi-
tants are principally engaged in sheep-farming and
seafaring Industrie. The colony is prosperous, with
a trade that of late years has grown with extraordinary
rapidity. The dividends paid by the Falkland Islands
Company might excite the envy of many a London
director. Stanley's importance has been increased by
the erection of wireless installation; and as a coaling
and refitting station for vessels rounding the Horn, the
harbour, large, safe, and accessible, is of immense value.
To this remote outpost of empire came tidings of
war in August, 1914. Great excitement and enthusiasm
prevailed. News was very slow in getting through :
the mails, usually a month in transit, became very
exratic. But the colony eagerly undertook a share in
the b«mlep of the Empire ; £2,250 was voted towards
the wta-fh^ ; £750 was collected on behalf of the
Prince of ales's Fund. Detached, though keen, interest
changed, however, as the weeks passed, to intimate
alarm. T*«w Gover lor, Mr. AUardyce, received a wire-
less me» from the Admiralty that he must expect
a raid. %* j cruisers were suspected to be in the

neighbours d. Never befctfe had tho oolony known
such bustle n nd such excitement. They, the inhabitants
of the reiBo Falklands, were to play a part in the
struggle that m togging at the roots of the world's
civilization. . exh^^%ratKyn of expectancy and of

A 2

6 rORONEL AND THE

danger broke Huddeniy into their uneventful, though
not easy, lives. But there was cause for keen anxiety.
The colonists were, however, reassured for a time by
a visit from three British warships, the cruisers Oood
Hope, Monmouth, and Olasgow, with the armed liner
OtrarUo.

The Oood Hope had, at the declaration of war, been
patrolling the Irish coast. She was ordered to sweep
the Atlantic trade routes for hostile cruisers. She
reached the coast of North America, after many false
alarms, stopping English merchantmen on the way,
and informing the astonished skippers of the war and
of their course in consequence. When forty miles east
of New York, Rear- Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock
came aboard with his staff, and hoiited his flag. The
Admiral turned southwards, sweeping constantly for
the enemy. Passing through the West Indies, he
proceeded to the coast of Brazil. Here he was joined
by the Glasgow. The Good Hope had picked up the
Monmouth previously. The three ships, accompanied
by the auxiliary cruiser Otranto, kept a southerly course.
The discovery at Pernambuco of twenty-three German
merchantmen snugly ensconced behind the breakwater,
in neutral harbour, proved very galling. The Straits
of Magellan and the cold Tierra del Fuego were at length
reached. The squadron was on the scent of three
German cruisers, the Leipzig, Dresden, and Nilrnbe.g.
It was suspected that they had gone to coal in this
remote corner of the oceans. Their secret and friendly
wireless stations were heard talking in code. The
British made swoops upon wild and unsurveyed bays
and inlets. The land around was covered with ice and
snow, and the many huge glaciers formed a sight
wonderful to behold. But the search had proved fruit-

FALKLAND TSlJ\ND.S

the

\M6, Alter rounding the Horn Mevernl timcH,
Hquadrou had turned towardn the Kulklands.

The inhabitants could not long rely, ' owever, upon
these powerful guardians. The squadron, after coaling,
departed, again bound for the Straits of Magellan and
the Paoifio. Its strength was certainly adequate to
tackle with success the three German ships believed to
be in the vicinity. The colony could depend upon
Admiral Cradock to protect it to the best of his ability.
But it was not improbable that the enemy might evade
the patrolling cruisers, and descend upon the hapless
Falklands without warning. The C40vernor saw the
advisability of instant preparation On October 19 he
issued a notice that all women and children were to
leave Stanley. Provisions, stores, and clothes were
hastily removed into the interior, which was locally
termed the ' camp '. The colony possessed a Volunteer
Rifle Cohipany, some 120 strong, and two nine-pounder
field-guns. Further volunteers were enrolled and
armed. Suddenly, on November 3, an alarming wire-
less message was received. The Good Hope and the
Monmouth were reported to have been sunk off the
coast of Chili. It was unsigned. There was no proof
of its authenticity. But the next day another message
followed from the captain of the Glasgow. The disaster
was confirmed. The Glasgow, in company with H.M.S.
Canopus, was running with all speed for the Falklands.
They were probably being followed by the victorious
Germans. Four days of acute suspense followed. The
situation seemed critical. The Governor passed several
nights without taking off his clothes, in expectancy of
wireless messages thit needed instant decoding. People
slept beside their telephones. Early in the morning of
Sunday, November 8, the two warships arrived.

ft CORONEL AND THE

The Glasgow was badly damaged. An enormous hole,
three feet by nine feet, gaped in her side. A shell had
wrecked Captain Luce's cabin, giving off fumes such as
rendered unconscious several men who rushed in to put
out the fire. The vessel had escaped any serious out-
break, however, and had suffered only four slight casual-
ties. Warm tributes were paid by the captain to the
cool and disciplined conduct of both officers and men.
The Canopus had not been eng&^:;ed. But a narrative
of the preceding events may now be appropriate.

Vice- Admiral the Graf Maximilian von Spee was in
command, at the outbreak of hostilities, of the German
China fleet stationed at Tsing Tau. A successor, indeed,
had been appointed, and was on the way to relieve him.
But just before war was declared von Spee and his
squadron steamed off into the open seas. To remain
at Tsing Tau while vastly superior forces were closing
in upon him would be to little purpose. Commerce
raiding offered a field for rendering valuable service to
the Fatherland. The Emden was dispatched to the
southern seas. The Leipzig and the Niimberg proceeded
across the Pacific, and began to prey upon the western
coast of South America. Half the maritime trade of
Chili was carried in English ships. Many of them
might be seized and destroyed at little risk. The
Admiral, with his two remaining vessels, the Schamhorst
and the Gneisenau, successfully evaded the hostile fleets
for some time. On September 14 he touched at Apia,
in German Samoa, familiar to readers of Robert Louis
Stevenson. It could be remembered how, fifteen years
before, this colony, shortly to fall before a New Zealand
expeditionary force, had been a bone of contention be-
tween Great Britain and Germany. Captain Sturdee,
whom von Spee was soon to meet in more arduous

FALKLAND ISLANDS

!

operation, had on that occasion commanded the British
force in the tribal warfare. Eight days later, on Sep-
tember 22, the two German cruisers arrived off Papeete,
in Tahiti, one of the loveliest of Pacific islands. A small
disarmed French gunboat lying there was sunk, and the
town was bombarded. The Admiral, planning a con-
centration of German ships, then steamed east across
the Pacific. He got into touch with friendly vessels.
By skilful manoeuvring he finally brought five war-
ships, with colliers, together near Valparaiso.

The German ships were all of recent construction.
The Schamhorst and the Gneisenau were armoured
cruisers of 11,600 tons. The Leipzig, the Numherg, and
the Dresden were light cruisers of about 3,500 tons.
The armament of the larger vessels included eight
8'2-inch and six 6-inch guns. The smaller relied upon
either ten or twelve 4-inch pieces. Each ship carried
torpedo tubes, and the speed of each was about twenty-
two or twenty-three knots an hour. The Dresden,
however, could go to twenty-seven knots. The squadron
possessed all-important allies. Several German mer-
chant-marine companies, notably the Kosmos, plied
along the Chilian coast. The tonnage of their vessels,
indeed, amounted to no less than half that of the
English companies. The advance of German enterprise
in Chili in recent years had been very marked. Von
Spec's great stumbling-block was coal. The laws of
war prevented him from sending more than three of
his warships into a neutral port at the same time, from
staying there more than twenty-four hours, from
taking more coal than was necessary to reach the
nearest German harbour, from coaling again for three
months at a port of the same nationality. But if Ger-
man merchantmen. hami)ered by no such restrictions,

10

CORONEL AND THE

could constantly renew hitt supplies, the difficulty
of fuel could be to some extent met. Provisions and
secret information as to British movements could also
be obtained through the same source. Such employ-
ment of merchantmen, however, being contrary to
international law, would have to be clandestine. The
great Pacific coast offered numerous harbours and
abundant facilities for being utilized as a base under
such conditions. It showed many historic precedents
for bold and adventurous exploits which could not fail
to appeal to an admiral whose family, ennobled by the
Emperor Charles VI, took pride in its ancient and
aristocratic lineage. The occasion seemed opportune,
moreover, for the accomplishment, by himself, his
officers, and men, of deeds which should inspire their
posterity as British naval traditions, for lack of other,
at present inspired them. They could recall how, on
this very coast, in 1578-9, Drake, the master raider,
had seized a Spanish treasure-ship off Valdivia, had
descended like a hawk upon Callao, had pounced upon
another great galleon, taking nearly a million pounds
in gold and silver ; and how the intrepid mariner,
sailing off into the unknown ocean, had circumnavigated
the globe, while the furious de Toledo waited, with
eleven warships, in the Straits of Magellan. Why,
indeed, should not the Germans imitate, in the twentieth
century, the deeds of Drake in the sixteenth ? If they
preyed ruthlessly upon English merchantmen, laden
with the wealth of the West, if they made a descent
upon the Falkland Islands, if then they were to dis-
appear into the wide Pacific, a career of splendid adven-
ture and of unbounded usefulness would earn for them
both the respect and the plaudits of the world. Australian
and Japanese warships were sweeping the eastern Pacific

FALKLAND ISLANDS

11

'S

for them. Many British vessels, called from useful
employment elsewhere, would have to join in the search
for them. But so vast was the area that they might elude
their enemies for months. British ships were already
cruising near the Horn, possibly unaware that a con-
centration of the Germans had been effected. It was not
unlikely that von Spee might be able to cut off and to
destroy stray units of the patrolling squadrons. The Graf
could see many opportunities of serving effectively the
cause of the Fatherland. He must utilize them to the full.
Sir Christopher Cradock, meanwhile, had rounded
the Horn once more, and was cruising northwards up
the coast of Chili. That coast, indeed, once the haunt
of corsairs and filibusters, was rich in historic associa-
tions and in natural beauties. An element of grandeur
and of mystery seemed to hover around the countless
ridges and peaks of the Andes, stretching, with the
gleam of their eternal snows, for four thousand miles,
and gazing down across the illimitable waters of the
Occident. Upon the plateaux, miles above sea level,
stood old stone temples and pyramids which rivalled
in massiveness and ingenuity those of Egypt and of
Babylon. The student of ancient civilizations could
trace, in the mystic deities of the Incas and Araucanians,
a strange similarity to the deities of the Chaldeans and
Babylonians. Speculation upon this analogy formed
a fascinating theme. This coast, too, was sacred to
memories that could not but be dear to sailors as
gallant and daring as Cradock, since his services in
China, in 1900, was known to be. Among other
familiar British names, Cochrane, Lord Dundonald,
had won enduring glory in the struggle for Chilian
independence, nearly a hundred years before. The
conditions of naval warfare had, indeed, through the

12

CORONEL AND THE

introduction of armour and the perfection of weapons,
radically changed since Cochrane, in a series of singularly
audacious exploits, had overcome the fleets of Spain.
Sea-fighting had becomd>^purely a matter of science. The
object of strategy was to concentrate faster ships and
more powerful guns against weaker forci. The odds
w ith which Cradock was to contend against the Germans
were greater in proportion, if less in bulk, than the odds
with which Cochrane had contended, with his peasant
crews and his hulks, against the Spanish ' wooden-
walls '. Admiral Cradock now knew that there were
two more cruisers in the neighbourhood than had at
first been supposed. The Canopus had accordingly
been sent to join his squadron. But she was a battle-
ship, and much slower than the cruisers. She could
travel no faster than at eighteen knots. Cradock pro-
ceeded northwards, ahead of the Canopus, made a
rendezvous off Concep9ion Bay for his colli ;.o, and
went into Coronel and on to Valparaiso to pick up
news and receive letters. The squadron then returned
to the rendezvous and coaled. This completed, the
Admiral directed the Glasgow to proceed again to
Coronel to dispatch certain cables. Captain Luce duly
carried out his mission, and left Coronel at nine o'clock
on Sunday morning, November 1, steaming northwards
to rejoin the other ships. A gale was rising. The wind
was blowing strongly from the south. Heavy seas
continually buffeted the vessel. At two o'clock a wire-
less signal was received from the Good Hope. Appar-
ently from wireless calls there was an enemy ship to
northward. The squadron must spread out in line,
proceeding in a direction north-east-by-east, the flag-
ship forming one extremity, the Glasgow the other. It
was to move at fifteen knots. At twenty minutes pa.st

FALKLAND ISLANDS

13

&

i

four in the afternoon, smoke waw observed upon the
horizon. The Glasgow put on speed and approached.
Officers soon made out the funnels of four cruisers.
It was the enemy. The Germans, their big armoured
cruisers leading, and the smaller behind, gave chase.

The Glasgow swept round to northward, calling to
the flagship with her wireless. Von Spee, anticipating
this move, at once set his wireless in operation, in order
to jamb the British signals. Captain Luce soon picked
up the Monmouth and the Otranlo, and the three ships
raced northwards towards the flagship, the Glasgow
leading. At about five o'clock the Good Hope was seen
approaching. The three ships wheeled into line behind
her, and the whole squadron now proceeded south.
Von Spee, coming up from that direction in line ahead,
about twelve miles off, changed his course and also
proceeded south, keeping nearer to the coast. The
wind was now blowing almost with the force of a hurri-
cane. So heavy was the sea that small boats would
have been unable to keep afloat. But the sky was
not completely overcast, and the sun was shining.
Firing had not opened. The washing of the seas and
the roaring of the wind deafened the • ' r to other sounds.
The warship of to-day, when her gieat turbines are
whirling round at their highest speed, moves without
throb and almost without vibration through the waves.
The two squadrons, drawing level, the Germans nearer
to the coast, raced in the teeth of the gale, in two
parallel lines, to the south.

Sir Christopher Cradock could not but realize that the
situation was hazardous. He had three vessels capable
of fighting men-of-war. The Otranlo was only an armed
Imer, and must withdraw when the battle developed.
The Good Hope displaced some 14,000 tons, and was

A3

14

CORONEL AND THE

armed with two 9-2-inch and sixteen 6-inch guns. The
Monmouth, with a tonnage of 9,800, carried fourteen
6-inch pieces, but the Olaagow, a ship of 4,800 tons, had
only two of the 6-inch weapons. It was certain that the
German 8'2-inch guns, if the shooting was at all good,
would be found to outrange and outclass the British.
Cradock was certainly at a disadvantage in gun-
power. His protective armour was weaker than that
of the enemy. Nor did his speed give him any
superiority. Though the Olaagow was capable of twenty-
six knots, the flagship and the Monmauth could only go
to twenty- three. But there was another consideration
which the Admiral might weigh. Coming slowly up
from the south, but probably still a considerable distance
oft, was the battleship Canopua. Her presence would
give the British a decided preponderance. She was
a vessel of some 13,000 tons, and her armament included
four 12-inch and twelve 6-inch pieces. How far was she
away ? How soon could she arrive upon the scene ?
Evening was closing in. Cradock was steering hard in
her direction. If the British, engaging the enemy
immediately, could keep them in play throughout the
night, when firing must necessarily be desultory, perhaps
morning would bring the Canopua hastening into the
action. It was possible that the Germans did not know
of her proximity. They might, accepting the contest,
and expecting to cripple the British next morning at
their leisure, find themselves trapped. But in any case
they should not be allowed to proceed without some
such attempt being made to destroy them. It must
not be said that, because the enemy was in greater force,
a British squadron had taken to flight. Perhaps it
would be better, since darkness would aflford little oppor-
tunity of manoeuvring for action, to draw nearer and to

FALKLAND ISLANDS

16

engage fairly soon. It was about a quarter past six.
The Germans were about 15,000 yards distant. Cradock
ordered the speed of his squadron to seventeen knots.
He then signalled by wireless to the Canopus, ' I am
going to attack enemy now '.

The sun was setting. The western horizon was mantled
by a canopy of gold. Von Spec's manoeuvre in closing
in nearer to the shore had placed him in an advantageous
position as regards the light. The British ships, when
the sun had set, were sharply outlined against the
glowing sky. The Germans were partly hidden in the
failing light and by the mountainous coast. The island
of Santa Maria, off Coronel, lay in the distance. Von
Spec had been gradually closing to within 12,000 yards.
The appropriate moment for engaging seemed to be
approaching. A few minutes after sunset, about seven
o'clock, the leading German cruiser opened fire with
her largest guns. Shells shrieked over and short of the
Oood Hope, some falling within five hundred yards. As
battle was now imminent, the Otranto began to haul
out of line, and to edge away to the south-west. The
squadrons were converging rapidly, but the smaller
cruisers were as yet out of range. The British replied
in quick succession to the German fire. As the distance
lessened, each ship engaged that opposite in the line.
The Oood Hope and the Monmouth had to bear the brunt
of the broadsides of the Scharnhorst and the Gneisenau.
The Glasgow, in the rear, exchanged shots with the light
cruisers, the Leipzig and the Dresden. The shooting was
deadly. The third of the rapid salvos of the enemy
armoured cruisers set the Good Hope and the Monmouth
afire. Shells began to find their mark, some exploding
overhead and bursting in all directions. In about ten
minutes the Monmouth sheered off the line to westward

16

CORONEL AND THE

about one hundred yards. She was being hit heavily.
Her foremost turret, shielding one of her 6-inch guns,
was in flames. She seemed to be reeling and shaking.
She fell back into line, however, and then out again
to eastward, her 6-inch guns roaring intermittently.
Darkness was now gathering fast. The range had
narrowed to about 5,000 yards. The seven ships were
all in action. Many shells striking the sea sent up
columns of white spray, showing weirdly in the twilight.
It was an impressive scene. The dim light, the heavy
seas, the rolling of the vessels, distracted the aim.
Some of the guns upon the main decks, being near the
water-line, became with each roll almost awash. The
British could fire only at the flashes of the enemy's guns.
Often the heavy head seas hid even the flashes from the
gunlayers. It was impossible to gauge the effect of
their shells. The fore-turret of the Oood Hope biirst
into flames, and she began to fall away out of line
towards the enemy. The Glasgow kept up a continual
fire upon the Grerman light cruisers with one of her
6-inch guns and her port batteries. A shell struck her
below deck, and men waited for the planks to rise. No
explosion nor fire, however, occurred. But the British
flagship was now burning brightly forward, and was
falling more and more out of line to eastward. It was
about a quarter to eight. Suddenly there was the roar
of an explosion. The part about the Good Hope's after-
funnel split asunder, and a column of flame, sparks, and
debris was blown up to a height of about two hundred
feet. She never fired her guns again. Total destruction
must have followed. Sir Christopher Cradock and
nine hundred brave sailors went down in the stormy
deep. The other ships raced past her in the darkness.
The Monmouth was in great distress. She left the line

FALKLAND ISLANDS

17

after a while, and turned back, ateaming with diflioulty
to north-west. She had ceased firing. The vessels had
been travelling at a rate which varied from seven to
seventeen knots. The Oltugow, now left alone, eased
her speed in order to avoid shells intended for the
Monmouth. The Germans dropped slowly back. The
8chamhor8l and the Qneiaenau now concentrated their
salvos upon the Olasgow. The range was about 4,500
yards. A shell struck the second funnel : five others
hit her side at the waterline, but fortunately not in
dangerous places. Luce, her captain, since the flagship
was no more, was senior ofiicer. He brought his vessel
round and moved rapidly back.

The Monmouth had now fallen away to a north-
easterly course. Luce stood by signalling. Could she
steer north-west ? She was making water badly
forward. Captain Brandt answered, and he wanted to
get stem to sea. The enemy were following. Luce
signalled again. There was no reply. The Okugow
steamed nearer. The Monmouth was in a sinking
condition. Her bows were under water, and the men
were assembled at the stern. The sea was running very
high. Rain and mist had come on, though a moon was
now rising. The enemy had altered course, and were
approaching in line abreast about 6,000 yardn away.
A light kept twinkling at regular intervals from one
of the ships. They were signalling in Morse, and
evidently were forming plans of action. Firing was
still proceeding intermittently. It was about half-past
eight. Captain Luce could see nothing for it but to
abandon the Monmouth to her fate. To rescue her crew,
under such conditions, was impossible, while to stand
by and endeavour to defend her would be folly. The
Glasgow was not armoured, and could not contend with

18

CORONEL AND THE

armoured vesselii. Of the two guns she posBessed
capable of piercing the enemy's armour, one had been
put out of action ten minutes after the start. If she
stayed and fought to the end, 370 good Uyes, in addition
to the sufficiently heavy toll of 1,600 in the Oood Hope
and the Monmouth, would be needlessly sacrificed.
The Canopiu, moreover, must be warned. She was
coming up from the south to sure destruction. She
could hardly be expected successfully to combat the
whole German squadron. Nevertheless, ii must have
been with heavy hearts that the men of the Qlasgow
turned away to seek safety in flight. It is recorded
that, as they moved off into the darkness, a cheer broke
forth from the Monmouth'a decks. Before the sinking
vessel became lost to sight another and a third went up.
At about a quarter past nine the Niimberg, w^' had
not been engaged in the main action, came ac: a the
MonmotUh. It is said that, though in a sinking con-
dition, the British ship attempted to ram her enemy.
But the Niimberg began to bombard her, and she
capsized.

The Glasgow steamed off in a north-westerly direction.
A few minutes before nine the enemy became lost to
sight. Half an hour later many distant flashes of
gunfire, the death-struggle of the Monmouth, were seen.
The play of a searchlight, which lasted a few seconds
and then disappeared, was also observed. The vessel
bore round gradually to the south. Her wireless was
put into operation, and she made efforts to get through
to the Canopiis. But the Germans had again set
their apparatus in motion, and the messages were
jambed. Only after some hours was the Glasgow
successful. Steaming hard at twenty-four knots through
the heavy seas, her engines and boilers fortunately being

FALKLAND ISLANl^

19

I

rec'«'iv«»* a wireless
He wa« t » proceed
<th ilm 1i\m*>§ou}. The
i the atter (^rmission
make urgefit repairs.

intact, she at length joined the batt -ship. The two
ships made straight for the Falkland Islands.

The news of the disaster stirred gre«t alarm in the
colony. Before the day on which the riiips arrived was
out the dismay was further increasecl The Canopua
at first expected to stay ten days. Her presonce
provided substantial relief. If the enemy appeared, she
and even the damaged Olctsgow could givt- a very good
account of themselves. F luring the morning
Captain Grant of the Ca
message from the Admiru
immediately to Rio de Jam*
Brazilian Government had gra» -<
to enter the dry dock thert
But seven days only were *iiowe»i fur this purpose.
In the evening the warship* ««t off wid steauied away
to northward.

* '♦ inley was now in an unwiviablf ■»! uatton A pt>wer-
ful O 'I squadron, flushe^l with v»jetw>ry , was proVmbly
making lur the Islands. Tlic cok>»*v »«e •Imost defence-
less. All the oppositioi hat th< *« wy would meet
would be from a few odreti vo^-^fcTeers. A wireless
message that came through emph ^amA ih.<c imminence
of the danger. Warnings and in»t » -^ •! w were outlined .
If the enemy landed, the volunteer ^e to fight. But
retirir. 5 tactics must be adopted, i « should be taken
to k( n out of range of the ein ^ay's big guns. The
Governor at once called a council of war. There could
be little doubt th.at a descent would be mMe upon the
colony. The position was full of peril. But resistance
must certainly be offered. The few women, children,
and old men who still remained at Stanley must be sent
away immediately. Fortunately the time of year was
propitious. November is, indeed, in the Falklauds

A)

CORONEL AND THE

iti;|i

considered the only dry month. The ground io then
covered with a variety of sweet -scented flowers. Further,
all the stores it was possible to remove must be taken
into the 'camp*. Quantities of provisions must be
hidden away at various points within reach of the town.
In order to add to the mobility of the defending force,
it would be well to bring in another hundred horses from
the • camp '. Every man should be mounted. These
measures were duly carried out. Every preparation
was made and every precaution taken. Everybody
began to pack up boxes of goods. Clothes, stores, and
valuables were aU taken away to safety. Books, papers,
and money were removed from the Government offices,
and from the he- dquarters of the Falkland Islands
Company. What is not sent away was buried. The
official papers and code-books were buried every night,
and dug up and dried every morning. The Governor's
tablecloths gave rise to much anxiety. It was thought,
since they were marked ' G. R.', they would be liabh
to insult by the Germans. They were accordingly
buried. This conscientious loyalty, however, proved
costly. The Governor's silver, wrapped in green baize,
was, unfortunately, placed in the same hole. The table-
cloths became mixed up with the baize. The damp got
through, and the linen was badly stained. There was a
feeling that the attack would come at dawn. People sat
up all night, and only went to bed when morning was
well advanced. All offices were closed and business was
suspended. This state of tension lasted several days. At
length, from the look-out post above the town, a warship,
apparently a cruiser, was seen making straight for the
wireless station. When she got within range she turned
broadside on. Her decks were cleared, for action.
There was a call to arms. Church and dockyai-d

FALKLAND 18LAN1>8

il

belU pealed out the alarm. Non-ooinbataiittt Mtreaiued
out of the town into the ' camp '. The volunteers
paraded, and lined up with their hones. It would soon
become a question whether to resist a landing or to
retire. In any event the men were ready and provided
with emergency rations. But no firing sounded. Signals
were exchanged between the vessel and the shore. It
was a false alarm. The newcomer was H.M.S. Canopus.

She had proceeded, in accordance with her orders,
towards Rio de Janeiro with the Glasgow. When two
days' journey off her destination, however, she received
another message. She was directed to return and to
defend the Falklands in case of attack. These instruc-
tions were received with mingled feelings. To fight
alone a powerful squadron was by no means an attractive
prospect. Duty, however, was duty. The Canopits
turned about, and retraced her passage. She set her
wireless in operation, and tried to get through to Stanley.
But for some reason she was unable to do so. It was
concluded that the Grermans had made a raid and had
destroyed the wireless station. Probably they had
occupied the town. The outlook seemed serious. The
Canopus had her instructions, however, and there was
no drawing back. The decks were cleared for action.
Ammunition was served out. Guns were loaded and
trained. With every man at his post the ship steamed
at full speed into the harbour. Gicat was the relief
when it was foimd that all was well.

The inhabitants were not less relieved. The presence
of the battleship was felt to add materially to the
security of the town. The Germans would probably
hesitate before attacking a ship of her size. If they
sustained damage involving loss of fighting efficiency,
there was no harbour they could turn to for repair,

I!

22

CORONEL AND THE

except so far as their set. 'orthiness was affected.
Nevertheless, it was almost certain that some raid upon
the Islands would be attempted. Guns were landed
from the ship, and measures were taken to make the
defence as effective as possible. Perhaps if the enemy
blockaded Stanley, the British would be able to hold
out until other warships, certain to be sent to avenge
the defeat, arrived. Relief could hardly be expected for
two or three weeks. The Falklands formed a very
distant comer of the Empire. It was doubtful, indeed,
whether even the ubiquitous German spy had penetrated
to these remote and barren shores. It could, however,
be recalled that, in 1882, a German expedition had
landed on South Georgia, a dependent island of the
Falklands, eight hundred miles to their south-east, to
observe the transit of Venus. Upon that same island,
indeed, another and a quite unsuspicious expedition had
landed, early in that very month, November. Sir Ernest
Shackleton, the explorer, had left Buenos Ayres on the
morning of October 26, on his way across the antarctic
continent. His little vessel of 230 tons, the Endurance,
passed through the war zone in safety, and reached
South Georgia on November 5. He remained for about
a month before leaving foi the lonely tracts for which
his little party was bound The island was his lasi, link
with civilization. Though sub-antarctic, it possessed
features as up-to-date as electric-light, universal even in
pigsties and henhouses. And the march of man, it was
observed, had introduced the familiar animals of the
farmyard, and even a monkey, into a region whose
valleys, destitute of tree or shrub, lay clothed with
perpetual snow.

Meanwhile, November passed into December without
any appearance of the Germans off the Falklands. The

FALKLAND ISLANDS

28

f

tension became very much relieved. Women and
children were brought back to Stanley, after being
away a month or six weeks. Messages emanating from
the hostile f^quadron, registered by the wireless station,
indicated that the enemy were still in the vicinit^-. But
the condition of the colony became again almost normal.
The relief and security were complete when, at length,
on Monday, December 7, a powerful British squadron,
under Vice-Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee, arrived at
Port Stanley. There were seven warships, besides the
Canoptts. The Invincible and the Inflexible had left
Plymouth on November 11, and had proceeded to the
West Indies. Their mission was to avenge Coronel.
They had picked up at Albatross Rock the Carnarvon,
Cornwall, Bristol, Kent, Glasgow, now repaired, and
Macedonia, an armed liner. All had then steamed
southwards towards the Falklands. The vessels started
coaling. Officers came ashore to stretch their legs.
Certain stores were laid in. It was anticipated that the
squadron would depart in search of the enemy on the
evening of the following day. That search might,
indeed, be a matter of months. Early next morning,
December 8, at about eight o'clock, a volunteer observer
posted on Sapper's Hill, two miles from Stanley, sighted
two vessels upon the horizon. Twenty minutes later the
smoke of two others came into view in the same direc-
tion. They were soon recognized as German cruisers.
The excitement was intense. The news was immediately
carried to the authorities. It was hastily signalled to
the fleet. Most of the ships were at anchor in Port
William, the outer entrance to Port Stanley. Some of
the naval officers were aroused from their repose. It is
recorded that, upon hearing the news, the flag-lieutenant
dashed down to Admiral Sturdee's cabin, clad in his

24

CORONEL AND THE

pyjamas. Sir Doveton was shaving. The lieutenant
poiwed forth his information. ' Well,' said the Admiral,
dryly, ' you had better go and get dressed. We'll see
about it later.' *

The Graf von Spee had, meanwhile, after the Battle
of Coronel, been devoting himself to harrying maritime
commerce. The Falklands could wait for the present.
Since the beginning of hostilities the work of his light
cruisers had been moderately successful. The Niimberg
had cut the cable between Bamfield, British Columbia,
and Fanning Island. The Leipzig had accounted for
at least four British merchantmen, and the Dresden for
at least two more. The armed '''ner Eitel Friedrich
had also achieved some success. Several traders had
had narrow escapes. The Chilian coast was in a state
of blockade to British vessels, the orts being crowded
with shipping that hesitated to venture forth into the
danger zone. The Germans were masters of the Pacific
and South Atlantic trade routes. The Straits of Magellan
and the Horn formed a great waterway of commerce,
which for sailing vessels was, indeed, the only eastern
outlet from the Pacific. But completely as he had the
situation in hand, von Spee was experiencing increasing
problems and difficulties with regard to supplies of coal
and provisions. Without these he avp" impotent. He
had been employing German merchantmen to great
advantage for refueling. But trouble was brewing
with the Chilian authorities. Many signs were leading
the latter to suspect that, contrary to international
» The writer cannot vouch for the truth of this anecdote, which
he merely records as given in a letter published in the press. But
the source from which it was taken, together with many of the
preceding details of the condition of Stanley during the period of
tension, has proved so accurate in essential points of fact, that their
insertion seems justifiable.

iiS j

FALKLAND ISLANDS

25

I

law, German traders were loading at Chilian ports
cargoes of coal and provisions, contraband of war, and
were transferring them at sea to the German warships.
There were other causes of complaint. Juan Fernandez,
the isle of romance and of mystery, the home of the
original of Robinson Crusoe, was said to have been
degraded into use as a base for apportioning the booty,
coals and victuals, among the belligerent vessels. The
island was a Chilian possession. Ft was practically
certain that von Spec's squadron had stayed there
beyond the legal limit of time. A French merchantman
had, contrary to rule, also been sunk there by the
Dresden, within Chilian territorial waters. Inquiries
in other quarters were being made, moreover, as to the
friendly wireless stations which the Germans had been
utilizing secretly in Colombia and Ecuador ; while a
rumour was current in the United States, that neutral
vessels had been seized and pillaged on the high seas.
Von Spee soon found that he was nearing the end even
of his illegitimate resources. He had tried the patience
of the Chilian authorities too far. About the middle
of November they suddenly prohibited, as a provisional
measure, the vessels of the Kosmos Company from
leaving any Chilian port. On November 24 a Govern-
ment ship was sent to Juan Fernandez to investigate,
and to see that Chilian neutrality was upheld. Many
such signs seemed to warn von Spee that the time was
appropriate to a sudden disappearance. He gathered
his squadron for a descent at last upon the Falklands.
His plans must be, not merely for a raid, but for an
occupation. There were probably two or three small
ships there. They should be sunk. The wireless station
must be destroyed. The Islands, after a landing had
been effected and the defence reduced, could be used

26

CORONEL AND THE

as a ba.se for the German operations. There were large
quantities of coal and stores at Stanley. The harbour
possessed facilities for refitting. To dislodge a strong
German naval force, with adequate guns, placed in
occupation of the colony, would be a difficult task for
the enemy. The Falklands had many possibUities.
According to von Spec's information they were feebly
defended and would fall an easy prey. At length, early
in the morning of December g. the Admiral brought
his fleet off Stanley. His five cruisers approached
from the south. They were, of course, observed. A
warning gun, probably from one of the smaU ships
which he would shortly sink, sounded the alarm
inside the harbour. There was no need, however, for
haste At twenty minutes past nme the Gneisenau
and the Niimberg moved towards the wireless station,
and brought their guns to bear upon it. But suddenly
from inside the harbour th^^re came the thunder of
a big gun. Five sheUs, of very heavy calibre, screamed
in quick succession from over the low-lying land. One
of the vessels was struck. Surprise and bewilderment
took the Germans. This was most unexpected. The
Gneisenau and the Niirnberg hastily retired out of
range.

Sir Doveton and his fleet, meanwhile, had gone to
breakfast. Steam for full speed was got up as rapidly
as possible. Coaling operations had recommenced at
6.30 that morning. The colliers were hurriedly cast
off, and the decks were cleared for action. Officers and
men were delighted at the prospect of an early fight.
The Germans had saved them a long cold search around
the Horn by calling for them. There was going to be
no mistake this time. The enemy could not escape.
Sturdee's squadron was superior "both in weight and

FALKLAND LSLANDS

27

speed to the German. It consisted of two battle-cruisers
of over 17,000 tons, the Invincible and Inflexible ; of
three cruisers of about 10,000 tons, the Carnarvon, Kent,
and Cornwall ; and of two light cruisers of 4,800 tons,
the Glasgow and Bristol. The primary armament of
the Invincible and Inflexible was eight 12-inch guns ;
of the CamarvonJouT 7'5-inch ; of the Kent and Cornwall,
fourteen 6-inch ; of the Glasgow and Biistol, two 6-inch.
The speed of the battle-cruisers was twenty-eight
knots ; of the three middle-class cruisers, twenty-two
to twenty-four knots ; and of the light cruisers, twenty-
five to twenty-six knots. In size, in armament, in
speed, the British squadron would decidedly prepon-
derate. Admiral Sturdee, however, though confident
of victory, was determined to take no risks, and to
minimize loss in men and material by making full use
of his superior long-range gunfire, and of his superior
speed. He would wait, screened by the land, until
the Germans had drawn nearer. Everything should
be got ready carefully. Undue excitement was to be
deprecated. Meanwhile, he watched the enemy closely.
At about a quarter to nine. Captain Grant of the Canopus
reported that the first two ships sighted were now
about eight miles away : the other two were still at
a distance of some twenty miles. The Kent passed
down the harbour and took up a position at the entrance
Five minutes later the smoke of a fifth German vessel
was observed. When, in about half an hour's time,
the two leading enemy ships made a threatening move
in the direction of the wireless station, the Admiral
ordered a swift counterstroke. Officers upon the hills
above the town signalled the range, 11,000 yards, to
the Canopus. She opened fire with her 12-inch guns.
The Germans hoisted their colours and drew back.

28

CORONEL AND THE

h

Their masts and smoke were now visible from the
upper bridge of the Invincible across the low land
bounding Port William on the south. Within a few
minutes the two cruisers altered course and made for
the harbour-mouth. Here the Kent lay stationed. It
seemed that the Germans were about to engage her.
As, however, they approached, the masts and funnels
of two large ships at anchor within the port became
visible to them. The Oneisenau and the Niimberg
coula hardly expect to contend alone with this force.
They at once changed their direction, and moved back
at increased speed to join their consorts.

The morning was gloriously fine. The sun shone
brightly, the sky was clear, the sea was calm, and
a breeze blew lightly from the north-west. It was
one of the rare bright stretches that visit the Islands,
for usually rain falls, mostly in misty drizzles, on
about 250 days in the year. At twenty minutes to ten
the Glasgow weighed anchor, and joined the Kent at
the harbour-mouth. Five minutes later the rest of the
squadron weighed, and began to steam out. The
battleship Canopus, her speed making her unsuitable
for a chase, was left in harbour. The Bristol and the
Macedonia also remained behind for the present. By
a dexterous use of oil fuel the two battle-cruisers were
kept shrouded as much as possible in dense clouds
of smoke. The enemy for some time could not gauge
their size. But as vessel after vessel emerged, Admiral
von Spec grew uneasy. The English were in altogether
unexpected strength. His squadron could not cope
with such force. He had played into the enemy's
hands, and unless he could outspeed their ships, the
game was up. Without hesitation, he steamed o£E at
high speed to eastward The British followed, steaming

FALKLAND ISLANDS

29

at fifteen to eighteen knots. The enemy, to their
south-east, were easily visible. At twenty past ten an
order for a general chase was signalled. The Invincible
and the Inflexible quickly drew to the fore. The Germans
were roughly in line abreast, 20,000 yards, or some
eleven miles, ahead. The morning sunlight, the gleam-
ing seas, the grey warships, white foam springing from
their bows, tearing at high speed through the waves,
formed a magnificent spectacle. Crowds of the inhabi-
tants of Stanley gathered upon the hills above the town
to view the chase. The excitement and enthusiasm
were intense. The vessels wer in sight about tvo
hoius. At about a quarter past eleven it was reported
from a point in the south of East Falkland that three
other German ships were in sight. They were probably
colliers or transports. The Bristol signalled the informa-
tion to Admiral Sturdee. He at once ordered her,
with the armed liner Macedonia, to hasten in their
direction and destroy them. The newcomers made
off to south-west, and the British followed. Meanwhile,
the rest of the squadron, now travelling at twenty-
three knots, were slowly closing upon the enemy. The
distance had narrowed to 15-16,000 yards. The British
were within striking range. Nevertheless, Sturdee
decided to wait till afier dinner before engaging. His
guns could outdistance those of the enemy. It would
be advisable for him to keep at long range. The Ger-
mans, on the other hand, would be forced, when firing
commenced, to alter course and draw in, in order to
bring their own guns into play. The men had their
midday meal at twelve o'clock as usual. It is said
that comfortable time was allowed afterwards for a
smoke. The Invincible, Inflexible, and Gkisgaw at about
12.30 increased their speed to between twenty-five

30

CORONEL AND THE

I

and twenty-eight knots, and went on ahead. Just after
a quarter to one there was a signal from the Admiral :
' Open fire and engage the enemy.' A few minutes
later there were sharp commands. The ranges were
signalled, and the bigger guns were laid. Fiery glares
and dense clouds of smoke burst suddenly from their
muzzles. The air quivered with their thunder. Shells
went screaming in the direction of the nearest light
cruiser, the Leipzig, which was dropping rapidly astern.
The firing was uncomfortably accurate. The three
smaller German cruisers very 3oon left the line, and
made an attempt, veering off to the south, to scatter
and escape. Flame and smoke issued from the Leipzig,
before she drew clear, where a shell had struck. Sir
Doveton Sturdee directed the Glasgow, Kent, and Comimll
to pursue the German light cruisers. With his remaining
vessels, the Invincible, the Inflexible, and the slower
Carnarvon, he turned upon the Schamhorst and the
Oneisenau, and began operations in earnest.

The interval of sunlight which had opened the day
with such promise was of short duration. The sky
became overcast. Soon after four o'clock the air was
thick with rain-mist. From 1.15 onwards for three
hours a fierce duel was maintained between the two
British battle-cruisers and the two German armoured
cruisers. The enemy made every effort to get away.
They replied to the British fire for some time, having
dropped back to within li>,500 yards. But shortly
after two o'clock they changed their course, and began
to haul out to south-east. The Invincible and the
Inflexible had eased their speed, and the range now
widened by about 3,000 yards. A second chase ensued.
A full-rigged sailing-ship appeared in the distance at
about a quarter to three. Her crew must have beheld

FALKLAND ISLANDS

81

•s..

i

an awe-inspiring scene. Shortly before the hour firing
recommenced. The action began to develop. Great
coolness and efficiency were shown on board the British
vessels. Every man was at his battle-station, behind
armour. Fire-control parties were at their instruments.
Water from numerous hoses was flooding the decks
as a precaution against fire. The roaring of the dis-
charges, the screaming of the shells, the clangour of metal
upon metal, the crashes of the explosions, made up
a tumult that was painful in its intensity. During
intervals in the firing came the rushing of the waves
and of the breeze, and the grinding and grunting of the
hydraulic engines in the turrets, where swung, training
constantly upon the enemy, the greater guns. The
Germans soon began to show signs of distress. The
Schamhorat particularly suffered. Dense clouds of
smoke, making it difficult for the British accurately to
gauge the damage, rose from her decks. Shells rending
her side disclosed momentarily the dull red glow of
flame. She was burning fiercely. The firing on both
sides was deadly, though the German had slackened
considerably. But the British vessels, through their pre-
ponderance in gunfire, suffered little damage. Their 12-
inch guns hit their marks constantly, while the 8-2-inch
guns of the Schamhorst were accurate, but ineffective.
She veered to starboard at about 3'30, to bring into
play her starboard batteries. Both her masts and three
of her four funnels were shot away. At length the
German flagship began to settle down rapidly in the
waters. It was about a quarter past four. There was
a swirl of the seas and a rush of steam and smoke.
The Schamhorat disappeared. She went down with
her flag flying to an ocean grave, bearing 760 brave
men and a gallant admiral, whose name will deservedly

32

CORONEL AND THE

rank high in the annals of German naval hiatury. The
Gnei«enau passed on the far side of her sunken flag-
ship. With the guns of both battle-cruisers now bearing
upon her alone, the German was soon in sore straits.
But she fought on gallantly for a considerable time.
At half-past five she had ceased firing, and appeared
to be sinking. She had suffered severe damage. Smoke
and steam were rising everywhere. Her bridge had
been shot away. Her foremost funnel was resting
against the second. Her upper deck was so shattered
that it could not be crossed, and every man upon it
had been killed. An exploding shell had hurled one
of the gun-turrets bodily overboard. Fire was raging
aft. Her colours had been shot away several times,
and hoisted as often. One of the flags was hauled
down at about twenty to six, though that at the peak
was still flying. She began to fire again with a single
gun. The Invincible, the Inflexible, and the Carnarvon,
which had now come up, closed in upon the doomed
vessel. Firing was recommenced. The Ontiaenau was
not moving. Both her engines were smashed. Shells
striking the water near her sent up colossal columns
of water, which, falling upon the ship, put out some
of the fires. She soon began to settle down in the waves.
All her guns were now out of action, and Sturdee
ordered the ' Cease fire '. There could be little doubt
that her stubborn resistance was nearing its end. The
German commander lined up his men on the decks.
The ammunition was exhausted. The ship would soon
go down. Some six hundred men had ak-eady been
killed. The survivors had better provide themselves
with articles for their support in the water. At six
o'clock the Gneisennu heeled over suddenly. Clouds
of steam sprang forth. Her stem swung up into the

FALKLAND ISLANDS SS

air, and nhe Hank. I^rge nunil)erH of her crew could
be seen floating in the icy waves, hanging on to pieceM
of wreckage, and uttering terribly uncanny crie». The
8ea was choppy. Drizzling rain waH falling. The
British steamed up immediately. All undamaged boats
were got out. Ropes were lowered. Lifebuoys and
spars were thrown to the drowning men. But many
of them, numbed by the freezing water, let go their
hold and sank. About 180, among them the captain
of the Gneisenau, were saved. It is said that much
agreeable surprise, upon the discovery that their anticipa-
tions of being shot would not be realizc<l, was manifested
by the German sailors.

Meanwhile, battle had l)een in progress elsewhere.
The Bristol and the Macedonia hatl overtaken the
transports Baden and Santa Isabel, hatl captwed their
crews, and had sunk the ships. The armed liner
accompanying them, the Eitel Friedrich, had, however,
made off and got away by means of her superior speed.
The Kent, OUxsgow, and Cornwall had pursued the
German light cruisers in a southerly direction. The
Dresden, the fastest, proved too speedy a vessel to .
overtake. She was ahead of her consorts, upon either
quarter, and made her escape whilst they were being
engaged. The Kent gave chase to the Niirnberg. The
Glasgow, in pursuit of the Leipzig, raced ahead of the
Cwnwall, and by about three o'clock in the afternoon
had closed sufficiently, within 12,000 yards, to open fire
with her foremost guns. The German ship turned every
now and then to fire u salvo. Soon a regular battle
began which was maintained for some hours. Shells fell
all around the Glasgow. There were several narrow
escapes, but the casualties were few. Shortly after six
a wireless message was received from Admiral Sturdee,

34

CORONEL AND THE

I

announcing that the Sehamhwat and the (Jneidenau had
been sunk. A ch<;er surged up, and the men set to work
with renewed spirits and energy. The Cornwall had
come up some time before, and the Leipzig was now
severely damaged. But she fought on for three more
hours. Darkness came on. The Qfirmpn cruiser began
to burn fore and aft. It was nine o'clock before she at
last turned over and sank.

The British vessels had, during the course of the
action, steamed miles apart, and far out of sight of land.
During the evening and night they began to get into
touch with one another and with Stanley by means of
their wireless. All the ships except the Kent were
accounted for, and reported all well. But no reply was
forthcoming to the numerous calls, ' Kent, Kent, Kent ',
that were sent out. She had, in chase of the Niimbtrg,
lost all touch with the rest of the squadron. There was
great uneasiness. It was feared that she had been lost.
The other ships were directed to search for her, and for
the Numberg and the Dresden. Late in the afternoon
of the following day, however, she entered Stanley
. harbour safely. Her wireless had been destroyed, but
she had sunk the N^mberg, after a very stem struggle.
The German captain, SchOnberg, is reported, indeed, to
have said at Honolulu, ' The Niirnberg will very likely
be our coffin. But we are ready to fight to the last '.
He had fcught and died true to his words. The German
ship was ordinarily more than a knot faster than the
British. But the engineers and stokers of the Kent rose
magnificently to the occasion. Fuel was piled high. Her
engines were strained to the utmost. Soon she was
speeding through the waves at twenty-five knots a knot
and a half more than her registered speed. The iV urnberg
drew nearer. At five o'clock she was within range, and

FALKLAND ISLANDS

3A

firing waH opened. A iiharp action began which laHted
some two and a half houn. The Kent was struck many
times, and lost several men. She had one narrow
escape. A bursting shell ignited some coidite charges,
and a flatth of flame went down the hoist into the amm*:
nition passage. Some empty shell bags began to bum.
Bui a sergeant picked up a cordite chaige and hiurled
it out of danger. Seizing a tire hose, he flooded the
compartment and extinguished the fire. A disastrous
explosion, which might have proved fatal to the vessel,
was thus averted. Her silken ensign and jack, presented
by the ladies of Kent, were torn to ribbons. The
gallant captain collected the pieces, some being caught
in the rigging, and carefully preserved them. The
NUmberg, however, was soon in sore straits. Many
shells struck her, and she was set afire. Day drew into
evening, and darkness deepened. The Germans ceased
firing, and the Kent, within about 3,000 yards, followed
suit upon the enemy's colours being hauled down. The
Niirnberg sank just before half -past seven. As she
disappeared beneath the surface, men upon her quarter-
deck were waving the German ensign. The Kent, after
picking up some survivors, put about, and returned to
Stanley.

Here the rest of the squadron soon gathered. Con-
gratulatory telegrams began to pour in to Sir Doveton
Sturdee. And the curtain closed, in the flush of triumph,
upon the most memorable and most dramatic episode
in the history of the Falklands.

One further episode remains to complete the story.
The Dresden and the armed liner Eitel Friedrich, the sole
survivors of the German squadron, made once more for
the Pacific. They were Ic^"^ sight of for many weeks.
Suspicious movements and activities on the part of

36

CORONEL AND THE

German merchantmen were, however, again observed.
The Government wireless station at Valparaiso inter-
cepted lr'.t•s^.ii£';*:•s from the Dresden summoning friendly
vessels o bring her >• pplies. Persistent rumours began
to be ».srci listed th 't she was hiding in the inlets of
southern ChiJ'. l>uring January, 1915, the Eitel
Friedrich seized and destroyed six vessels, chiefly sailing-
ships, some in Pacific, most in Atlantic waters. In
February she accounted for four more. Towards the
end of the month a British barque was sunk by the
Dresden. The position was again rapidly becoming
troublesome. The movement of British shipping on the
Chilian coast had to be suspended. But the Glasgow
and the Kent were on the Dresden's track. The Kent
entered Coronel on March 13, coaled, and departed the
same night. The Eitel Friedrich, meanwhile, had
arrived at Newport News, a United States port, with her
engines badly in need of repair. Much indignation was
aroused among Americans by the announcement that
one of her victims had been an American vessel. The
Grerman liner had many prisoners on board Declara-
tions of a resolve, if he had been caught by the British,
to have sunk fighting to the last, were repeatedly and
emphatically declaimed by the German captain. Five
days later he learned that the Dresden had tamely sur-
rendered off Juan Fernandez after a five minutes' action.
The Kent, at nine o'clock on the morning after she had
left Coronel, together with the Glasgow and the auxiliary
cruiser Orama, came up with the Dresden near the island.
A sharp encounter followed. The German cruiser was
hit heavily. Fire broke out. In five minutes' time she
hauled down her colours, and hoisted a white flag. The
crew were taken off. The Dresden continued to burn
for some time, until finally her magazine exploded and

FALKLAND ISLANDS

37

i

she sank. The German officers contended that their
vessel was sunk within Chilian territorial waters. It
had not hitherto been noticeable that their consciences
were concerned to ma'ntain Chilian neutrality inviolate.
The Battle of the Falkland Islands was the first
decisive naval contest of the war. It removed a formid-
able menace to the trade routes. It relieved British
convoys and transports from danger of interruption.
It freed many battleships and cruisers, engaged in
sweeping the oceans, for other usefulness. It gave
Great Britain effective mastery of the outer seas.
Henceforth German naval ambition, frustrated in its
endeavour to disorganize the trade routes, was forced,
within the limits of the North Sea and of British waters,
to seek less adventurous but more disreputable ends.
A series of bombardments of coast towns was planned.
A preliminary success was followed by a galling disaster.
Foiled a second time, Germany is attempting now to
terrorize British waters, by deliberate submarine piracy,
to all maritime commerce. Her project has elicited the
protests of neutral States. It has excited no dismay
among the allied nations.

Oxford: Hot ace Hart Printer to the University

WHY WE ARE AT WA

GREAT BRITAIN'S CASE

BY MEMBERS OF THE OXFORD FACUL
OF MODERN HISTORY
E. BARKER. h. W. C. DAVIS.

C. R. L. FLETCHER. ARTHUR HASSALl

L. G. WICKHAM LEGG F. MORGAN.

With an Appendix of Original Documents

including the Authorized English Translation

of the White Book issued by the

German Government

THIRD EDITION REVISED (ELEVENTH IMPRESSK
CONTAINING THE RUSSIAN ORANGE BOOK ANE
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